Metallica with the Datsuns

For the uninitiated, it could have been a little scary - 13,000 black-clad Metallica fans stalking through the gardens on the way to the Sidney Myer Music Bowl for their first glimpse of their metal heroes in six years. There was a strong police presence and, not surprisingly, the fences around the bowl had been reinforced.

Kiwi support act the Datsuns were always going to be up against it, but despite the sea of upraised middle fingers constantly waving at them, they soldiered on and put on a great, 45-minute set of rock'n'roll.

The roar was deafening as long-time intro The Ecstasy Of Gold rang out through the PA. Somehow that roar was surpassed as the opening notes of Battery hit the crowd. The elation was evident - Metallica were starting with the old and heavy.

It was only the beginning of what was a blistering 140-minute, diehard fan's dream set list that, mercifully, drew mainly from the band's first five albums - with no material from the poorly received Load and Reload albums.

Having left alcohol abuse behind him, singer and rhythm guitarist James Hetfield stalked the stage like a man reborn, clearly enjoying himself as they plunged through The Four Horsemen, Ride The Lightning and Sanitarium.

Now that he's worked through his own demons, it seems he's working on everyone else's.

"Have you got your anger with you?" he yelled as he cranked into the opening chords of Frantic. "And would you like to get it out?" Welcome to group therapy - Metallica style.

The songs kept coming - Creeping Death, One, Damage Inc. among them. Nothing Else Matters was the only "slower" song for the entire night.

Thankfully Metallica have moved on from the indulgences of the '80s and early '90s that saw ridiculously long guitar, bass and drum solos and rock star posturing. This was a stripped back show that put the music, and the crowd, at the centre, with Hetfield constantly inviting the faithful to sing for him - and sing they did, sometimes just about drowning out the band.

Most would have thought it was over as the explosions of Enter Sandman faded, but chief therapist Hetfield was having too much fun. "Do you feel good now? I feel better now," he yelled as he launched into Danzig's Die, Die My Darling before finishing the show where their career began - Hit The Lights off debut album Kill 'Em All.

Now in their 40s, and old enough to be the dads of many in the crowd, they left little doubt that Metallica still have plenty to teach young rockers.